New Jersey Scuba Diving

VESSEL DESIGNATION: LV 78/ WAL 505

YEAR BUILT: 1904

BUILT AT: Camden (NJ)

APPROPRIATION: $90,000

BUILDER: New York Shipbuilding Co

CONTRACT PRICE: $89, 030

SISTER VESSELS: LV 79, 80, 81, 83

DESIGN: Steam screw; steel hull; 2 steel masts with wood spencers; stack amidships; small wheelhouse ahead of the foremast

LENGTH: 129’0″ (LOA); BEAM: 28’6″; DRAFT: 12’6″; TONNAGE: 668 displacement

PROPULSION: Steam – one compound surface condensing engine, 16 and 31″ bores x 24″ stroke, 325 IHP; two fire-tube boilers 9’3″ diameter x 16’4″ long; propeller 7’9″ diameter; max speed 10 knots; also rigged for sail

ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: Cluster of 3 oil lens lanterns raised to each masthead

FOG SIGNAL: 10″ steam whistle; hand-operated bell

CONSTRUCTION NOTES – MODIFICATIONS – EQUIPMENT CHANGES & IMPROVEMENTS: LV 78

1905: Completed vessel delivered by contractor

1906: Submarine bell signal installed

1906: Wireless telegraph equipment supplied, installed, and operated. by Navy

1915: Equipped with 375mm acetylene lens lanterns mounted at each masthead

1917: Radio equipment provided and installed by Lighthouse Service

1919: Steam siren added (original 10″ whistle retained)

1922: Radio-beacon installed

1926: Illuminating apparatus converted to electric operation

1934/35: Repowered with 600 HP GM geared diesel, 7′ diameter propeller, max speed 8 knots; auxiliary systems converted from steam to diesel

1945: Fitted with search radar

1954: Listed with 2 500mm lens lanterns, 15,000cp; air diaphragm horn (Leslie 17″ typhoon) and AN/SPN-11 radar.

Radio and visual call sign NNGT (1940-1960)

STATION ASSIGNMENTS: LV 78

1905-1942: Relief (3d District)
1942-1945: Examination Vessel, WWII
1945-1947: Scotland (NJ)
1947-1960: Relief (3d District)

(1942-1945: Based at Staten Island; used as examination vessel in 1st and 3d Coast Guard Districts, no armament provided)

HISTORICAL NOTES; LV 78

1905: Mar 2, delivered by contractor to Staten Island Depot; fitted out and supplied.

1905: May 4-25, relieved Cornfield Point; May 27-Jul 5, relieved Brenton Reef; Aug 1-Sep 16, relieved Fire Island; Sep 16-Oct 4, relieved Scotland; Oct 9-28, relieved Brenton Reef.

1906: Wireless telegraph equipment supplied, installed, and operated by Navy Dept; submarine bell signal also installed same year.

1906: Apr 16-May 23, relieved Overfalls (DE); Jun 9-Jul 25, relieved Sandy Hook; Jul 30-Aug 28, relieved Fire island; Oct 10-Nov 14, relieved Cornfield Point; Nov 21-Jan 2, 1907, relieved Nantucket Shoals.

1907: Apr 1-Jul 11, relieved Fire Island.

1913: Jan, while relieving Cape Lookout, parted chain and adrift; regained station using spare anchor.

1913: Jul, while attempting to transfer mail to passing steamer CITY OF ATLANTA, the 5 lightship crewmen manning the whaleboat were drowned when run down by the steamer.

1915: Apr, equipped with two 375mm acetylene lens lanterns, with clock and cam controller in engine room which in turn applied battery power to a solenoid gas valve in the lantern at each masthead. This arrangement allowed setting any flash characteristic on either or both lanterns; as necessary to relieve any station in the District.

1960: Jun 24, while relieving Ambrose Channel station, was rammed and sunk by SS GREEN BAY.

RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: (1960); AGE: 56

SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION:

1960: Jun 24, while relieving Ambrose Channel station; rammed and sunk on station by steamer GREEN BAY.

COMMANDING OFFICERS: LV 78 / WAL 505

?-1914: Frank Tilghman, Mate
1914-1918: Sidney Ellis, Master
1918-?: Harry Hansen, Master
1919-1920: Hans Swensen, Mate
1920-?: Peter M Lied, Mate
1954-?: BMC Maxwell Fulcher, OIC

(?)1957-1958: CWO2 (BOSN) W.A. Wicks, CO; BMC Maxwell Fulcher, XO (to 1957)

1958-1959(?): CWO1 (BOSN) G.R. Brower; BMCM Louis C. Carter, XO (1957-1959?)

1959-1960: CWO1 (BOSN) Joseph Young; BMC Joseph E. Tamalonis, XO (was OIC on the night of the collision as Young was on leave.)